10 Flat Ride Cymbals Compared | Which Is Best For You?

[@jasonb2180]

This video did confirm that I am not a flat ride person, but I always enjoy a good DCOP video !! Well-done, as always, and I am sure some folks will be snapping these up soon!!

[@drumcenternh]

Much appreciated!

[@canoedoc2390]

Great video. To my ears the 22" Paiste Masters Dark Flat Ride is the cat's meow. Have been in love with my 20" Ufip Flat rides in 3 different weights for 20 years. They are my go to rides but keep various 20," 21," and 22" standard Ufips with bells for louder applications or if using the bell for latin grooves. A stick with a wooden barrel tip, like the Vic Firth Dave Weckl signature, has a wonderful rebound feel and crystal articulation on flat rides.

[@JasonSmith-jr7jh]

You speak truth and wisdom, kind Sir.

[@richardkemp5550]

Loved all the Paistes but the 602 thin is what I'd like for Christmas, please Santa.

[@supraphonic88]

lol at the Tom Morello photo I’ve been intrigued by flat rides ever since first being exposed to Carter Beauford’s 20” A Custom flat ride, so I’m going to say the brighter, cleaner sounds epitomize the concept for me personally.

[@IAmInfinitus208]

Paiste definitely. Especially the Masters 22!

[@alexalja]

And the winner is…RFM bass drum! Wow! Seriously, all flat rides sounds great. Some of them sounds more traditional and some got a trashier and modern vibe but all can shine in the right musical situation. You guys always doing an excellent job for the drum community. Thanks!

[@drumcenternh]

Thanks so much!

[@rok_koritnik]

I just realized it's a flat ride I need. Either Paiste Traditionals or Masters. I've been battling dissonant overtones in ride cymbals and almost removed a ride from my setup. The flat rides (at least the two I liked) have very faint undertone and hardly a discernable pitch. I like that. Thank you for this comparison.

[@winniemacchickenjack]

Ah yes, the Tom Morello picture when explaining that Joe Morello invented the flat rise.

[@powbobs]

That was hilarious.

[@JasonSmith-jr7jh]

The only thing Tom Morello (thinks he) invented is being a spoiled brat college kid '1 percenter' who preaches that Capitalism is evil and Marxist Socialism is virtuous and "true justice". Whoever put that picture in knows as much about Drumming and Drummers as Tom Morello knows about Flat Rides and having to work a real job. He may be a decent guitarist, but they are a dime a dozen. Otherwise, this was a fantastic foray into the underated realm of current Flat Rides!

[@dustjacket1000]

Settle down Horace

[@chizzadbc]

Classic DCP prank 😂

[@shogun2215]

Unchecked capitalism is evil. You Americans have been brainwashed just as badly as the Soviet Union brainwashed it's citizens.

[@kevinremsen5627]

Paiste all the way. I've grown to appreciate the flat ride sound. Very musical given the right application!

[@TH-pq3ly]

The fact that Paiste can even make B8 alloy sound that musical is a testament to their awesomeness.

[@jerewind]

Paiste Masters! this serie is extremely impressive in every respect: volume, sustain, crashability, weight and sumptuous hammering with very well-balanced harmonics.

[@klauth_Yksyn]

Great to see Tom back in the mix, really enjoy his playing. 👍 The flat ride has been a secret weapon of mine (for recording) for quite some time now. nice to see and hear it being brought to the forefront.

[@p.diddle]

I own a Paiste Masters Dark 22 flatride, and it is hands down the best flat I have ever played. It is perfect for low to medium volume music and records very well. I love the clear stick and crystaline sound of the Paistes. They dont drown in a mix but stand out with clarity.

[@SimonSaysDrum]

Cymbal Craftsmen/Royal Cymbals was my fav!! Great vid

[@drumcenternh]

Good choice!

[@RA2Music]

If I have any kind of a signature sound to my playing, it would be my aluminum snare and flat ride. I fell in love with the flat ride concept when I first played a 20” Zildjian A Flat in the mid ‘90s. For many years I played a vintage Sabian hand stamped 20” Flat (what would now be considered an AA). I recently switched to a Bosphorus 20” Black Pearl Flat and am enjoying it immensely. I would respectfully submit that a key consideration in choosing a flat ride is also the hats that will accompany them. The flat ride has a unique, crystalline sound that not all hats match up with sonically. For my Sabian I have a set of 14” Regular Hats from the same early ‘80s time period and with the Bosphorus a set of factory tonally matched 14” Black Pearl hats. Thanks for highlighting this unique type of ride cymbal and the various companies that continue to produce them.

[@dancalabrese3523]

The Paiste's owned this category. Just the way I'd want a flat ride to sound. They'd be wonderful for jazz or some Latin numbers. Tom is so right about stick choice and cymbal sound and his playing is always so musical. Thank you for another great video.

[@cosmokramer1213]

This is the first time I have preferred the Paiste's over everything else. Cool showcase DCP!

[@LouProsperi]

Of those I think my favorite was the Paiste 2002 20", followed closely by the Paiste Masters Dark 22". Earlier this year you had a used Zildjian A 20" Flat Ride that sounded AMAZING! If I'd had the budget I would have taken it home.

[@omarcortes5754]

I'm not much into flat rides but the Cappadocia and the Club Sizzle sound wonderful.

[@woody4269]

Grt vid other Tony(?). I didn't even know flat rides were a thing. T kit sounded like a perfect choice for t demo too. Especially how t bass was tuned. Thank u 🍻

[@drumcenternh]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@bilbobeermaker8397]

Another great review, thanks guys. Awesome as always.

[@CharlesTPrimm]

Fabulous drumming! I personally dig the 20" 2002. Sounds splendidly metallic.

[@BrassAttack1]

Out of all the players at DCP, Tom sounds like the most experienced and seasoned. As a result, he has the best touch, execution, language on the kit. and pocket. His playing best illustrates how these instruments sound when played well. I'd be happy if he did all of the demos. He is an asset to the DCP sales and marketing team. Also, kudos for demonstrating how the various stick types affect a cymbal's sound. This is often overlooked in video demos.

[@drumcenternh]

Tom is great!

[@joc8]

Great comparison video, guys. I purchased my first flat ride about 8 weeks ago, a Meinl 20"Jazz Club Sizzle, and it hasn't been off my kit since! The Turkish Cappa caught my ear, too. Basically, they all had their own unique voice, although I'm not a fan of the Istanbul Agop Xist for general ride use. Enjoyed your playing, Tom. Thanks DCP for your videos!

[@nickdenardo6479]

oh hell. i'm finally subscribing. i watch all your videos anyway..... i like the woodier sounding ones. Istanbul Turk flat ride, Meinl Jazz Tradition flat ride. the Turkish Cappadoccia (sp) was a nice surprise. love the funk of the complex sustain at the end. i own one flat ride, which is probably enough, but i have been toying with the idea of picking up a Meinl Jazz Tradition flat ride. the one on my floor over here is a 24" Bosphorous (that's right, 24") it's a Masters series. unlathed except for about 1/8" around the very edge. another fun and informative video. also, well produced

[@indigo4953]

Nice to hear some of the latest flat rides. I've use a Sabian Flat Ride (used to be called Flat Tops) since the mid 70's. I like the clean sticking and if I need more volume I just add a SM57 below the cymbal to match the standard one I have above it.

[@stevecarter6707]

Paiste 2002 or Formula 602. Both sound amazing. Fun fact, Charlie Watts used a flat ride with the Stones for many years.

[@ynotw57]

WOW! The Paiste rides 🤤🤤🤤 but mostly that Signature won me over.

[@CornerStoreDrums]

DCP is top notch always! 💯🥁 I dig the Paiste 2002 myself. 🤙

[@TheAngry-AmericanGuy]

WOW THAT 2002 IMMEDIATELY CAUGHT MY INTEREST, PERFECT JAZZ RIDE ! The 22 Masters Dark Ride is another damn good one ! ( This would be my choice purchase )

[@JulioFalavigna]

Cymbal Craftsman 22 Flat Ride has got the most balanced/pleasing sound to my ears...

[@Muskoxing]

Wow, those all sound great. I think my picks are the Paiste Masters and the Cymbal Craftsman, but that 2002 sounded awesome as well.

[@acidbran]

I have a 602 blue label 20" that kills. All of them sound great.

[@gcvrsa]

I can imagine situations for most of them, but if I were going to buy one for myself, it would almost certainly be the Paiste Traditionals. It has just the right balance of sparkle to wash for my taste. The second it came on, I thought to myself, "that's the sound". I half expected to hear Brubeck and Desmond join right in. Even after hearing all the others, I'd probably still choose it, and the only other contender for my ears was the Paiste Masters. I usually love everything 2002, but in this case, I felt the 2002 was just too much treble with too hollow of a middle.

[@martinlaporte2112]

The 2002 flat ride is by far the best sounding one. A 22" version would be even better but Paiste doesn't make those...yet...😊

[@Cmart50]

yeah, wow that 2002 is nice. i have to look at that one with a bell....

[@sumnerkinney2166]

Great job Tom!!!

[@James1623]

That was a fabulous video was ever! The only thing I was slightly disappointed about if you didn’t showcase any Zildjian Flat Rides 😮

[@C_475]

istanbul really took a single cymbal from their clap stack and called it a flat ride lol

[@LeakyJAZZ]

Hammered differently, larger than any clap stack cymbals, but also conveniently shaped so that yes you can actually use it to make a super phat clap stack, that was on purpose.

[@telsonalves8060]

Adoro os videos da DCP ,sempre explicativos , profissionais e que tanto ajudam aos anantes da Bateria ! Parabéns pessoal !!!

[@RalphOnofrio]

GREAT demo....My next ride 22'' Flat ride....I like the Istanbul Turk 20'' ..My favorite is the Turkish 22'' Cappadocia ride....That one sings to me...........Ralph Onofrio.

[@johnkelly4351]

There's a characteristic "old" 50s sound from the Turk Flat Ride 20". Reminds me of large Zildjians, but without the buildup.

[@Ashlord]

Flat rides are 100% not my thing and I don't ever see myself playing one, but my favorites were the Paiste Masters Dark and the Istanbul Cappadocia :) That Cappa was super unique

[@PrinceVinceOfficial]

The Byzance sizzle was my fav, but man those Paistes are so nice.

[@bobsondugnutt7526]

602 for me. Needle-like attack sounds great. Not sure what ride is used on Chick Corea - Return To Forever but I like that ride sound :)

[@stevenkamperman9003]

Legend has it that it is all the ecact same cymbal on Chick’s records, starting with Now he singa. And that was a 602. I believe an 18”, not sure about the size though.

[@bobsondugnutt7526]

@@stevenkamperman9003 cool, thanks for the info!

[@C0zyDunt]

Great vid again. Paiste Masters Dark 22" for me please.

[@drumcenternh]

Thanks and great choice!

[@Darrylizer1]

I love my flat ride! It's excellent for baking pizza or use as a shield during sword practice!

[@luigisavoia2401]

Hey. The search function at your website, how do I put this delicately , sucks. If I type ludwig drumset I get 0 results. If I type ludwig drums I get three pages of snares and toms. If I type just ludwig I get 3 pages of tee shirts and hardware before the first drumset shows up. Seemed to work better in the past.

[@drumcenternh]

Thanks for the feedback- we are working on this.

[@aaronraulston6248]

Paiste absolutely has the flat ride design and sound nailed down!!! All of them sounded incredible!! The 22 Masters and 22 602 thin were my two faves of the whole bunch!

[@aaronraulston6248]

Of the non paistes…. The 22 Byzance jazz traditional was tops IMO

[@dennislester9395]

What about Zildjian? I have two, 20" & 22". The first one I ever heard was a Paiste in the 1970's.

[@the6ig6adwolf]

Flat ride + China = stacked goodness

[@gaffroman]

I really want to know what this would sound like...

[@carlupthegrove262]

I have two flat rides... the Sabian Royalty Ride (modeled after the Paiste ride Roy Haynes used with Chick Corea 18") and a 20" K Custom Flat Top Ride .... They are both great in the right situation. Which for me is mellow jazz in an intimate indoor setting. The Zildjian is brighter and probably projects a little more. The Sabian is darker and has a really nice 'smokey' quality. It's #33. Of the ones you demoed I really like the Paiste Masters 22". I can see having that in my collection The sizzle ride was nice too....hmmmm maybe I should add rivets to my Zildjian Flat Top

[@Lumerdrums]

the 602 thin was really nice, but flat rides are not my type of cymbal :D

[@jamesdennett196]

I prefer the brighter ones, so the 602 and 2002 were the ones that caught my ear in the Paiste. I have a 2002 med ride and it was interesting that I could hear the 2002 sound still front and centre in the flat ride. Of the darker ones I liked the Meinl Byzance Trad. Interesting sound. Special mention has to go to the Royal Craftsman. A bit deeper in pitch for my taste, but still an exquisite sound. That Xist though???? What the hell? I genuinely don't get that one. I guess if you want that sound, fair enough. But to my ears it wasn't much different to just hitting a bit of sheet metal.

[@pablokagioglu2546]

I liked the Paiste’s best and in particular the 602 and Dark. I would pick one of those two and use different sticks for different responses.

[@grantmarshall8879]

my mel lewis signature agop might as well be a flat ride and honestly its GORGEOUS. also dont sleep on Mike Mongiello's Prestige series, pretty flat rides.

[@JulianFernandez]

makes me think of Roy. gotta love flats!

[@BrassAttack1]

Hahaha! At the intro, that's a picture of Tom Morello, not Joe Morello!

[@drumcenternh]

All part of the joke 😉

[@peterwilborn3233]

The epitome of flat rides: 602 ( I’d pick the 18). Next, Masters Dark. I okay the Sabian 18” Royalty. Great combo of the 2.

[@pibroch]

I just picked a 602 18 thin! - to not overpower double bass, piano, or singer in quiet music, and quiet delicate music in general.

[@ruffryder13]

Gotta gets the weights up online too.

[@howardk4016]

Paiste Signature Trad or 2002!

[@Monsterdrumma]

The Paiste signature by far for me then the masters and third the Byzance jazz tradition brown looking one in case I got the name wrong.

[@toneclassics]

Great Kick drum tone!!!

[@LeakyJAZZ]

Very unfortunate that you missed out on the very best flat ride ever made, the Agop 20" or 22" Traditional Flat ride...

[@idogillan]

Paiste for sure. I have the 602 formula and it is perfect

[@llock3hart]

❤ Meinl Traditional Flat Ride - 22"

[@craigjohnchronicles2504]

OH! That Meinl Byzance Jazz Sizzle...

[@guyjeffrey3999]

Paiste takes this one convincingly! Formula 602 22” thin would be my choice, it screams classic jazz or should I say, whispers.

[@RA2Music]

Though not presented in this video, and not technically a true flat ride (there is a mini bell present), the Dream Dark Matter Flat Earth Rides are really interesting instruments and well worth checking out if your in the market.

[@stevengood6434]

I would have to take the paiste 2002

[@rhythmcaster2018]

This time, Paiste is what I imagined a flat ride would sound.

[@vladislavbarakin9599]

No Zildjan and Sabian?

[@drumcenternh]

Didn't have any in stock.

[@coreyroberts47]

Agop Turk all day

[@jonmurphy9424]

Charlie Watts has entered the chat

[@justynhppdrummer98]

PAISTE ❤❤❤❤❤

[@stefanaleksic4113]

Pasite cymbals have the best maybe the only sizile sound.

[@kushking420]

Hard to choose for me tbh

[@seppoinnanen5577]

I'm not a fan of zingy Paiste flat ride sound. Too me, it's way too one dimensional. That's why Istanbul xist ride would be my choice. Played alone that taco might sound awful, but the fast jazz pattern with drums sounded like nothing else, added with a dark and short china-like tahh... great 👍

[@jamesdennett196]

I think that's a real Marmite cymbal. Love it or hate it. No in between 😅

[@kajem575]

R.I.P. ROY HAYNES.

[@dustjacket1000]

Paiste created the flat ride and Paiste wins the flat ride.

[@christopherslater7365]

Astounding Zildjian and/or Sabian are not represented in the flat ride market.

[@rickjones507]

they all sound a little flat to my ear

[@carlupthegrove262]

LOL!!!!

[@philipnestor5034]

A rim shot and cymbal crash! Ba dum bah!

[@ClayDoogun]

No Dream cymbals ??

[@adamfrost3722]

We considered them, but all their “flat rides” have bells.

[@timcline2799]

Tom Ash is an awesome drummer

[@drumcenternh]

You should hear his puns.

[@timcline2799]

@@drumcenternh lol Tom. But, his samba solo on Pearl maple gum, high tuning some years back is one of my all time favorite solos ever. Magnificent drumming

[@Neil-pv8pw]

That’s Tom morello not Joe

[@supmet2]

The Paiste collection wins hands down. The 2002 is my least favorite however.

[@loucontino4804]

No other manufacturer touches Paiste.

[@jamiedrake3324]

Um... that is a real choice to put a picture of Tom Morello instead of Joe Morello in the intro to the video? @drumcenternh

[@nickhaldin8674]

That istanbul is awful, sounds like a trash can lid😂 great playing though, and great sounds for the most part🤙🏼

[@mancuniancandidatem]

Paiste know how to make a flat ride.

[@martin.official]

Honestly, I don't like flat rides.

[@peterl2820]

Paiste’s sounded best…!!